..The objective of this short overview is to provide a critical appraisal of the most relevant scientific evidence comparing laparoscopic gastric banding versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y bypass in the treatment of morbidly obese patients...

Critical appraisal of meta-analyses: an introductory guide for the practicing surgeon

..This poses significant methodological challenges. The objective of this article is to present three different methods to predict latent variables based on classical summed scores, individual item responses, and latent variable models...

A suite of web applications to streamline the interdisciplinary collaboration in secondary data analyses

..To define the most sensitive biochemical test to establish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and also to assess the potential role of iodine 131-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (I-MIBG) in the diagnosis of this tumor...

Trends in clinical trials in surgical oncology: implications for outcomes research

Ulrich GullerAmerican College of Surgeons Oncology Group and the Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USAClin Ther 25:684-98. 2003

..The goal of this article is to summarize and assess some of the trends in clinical trials in surgical oncology. Examples of ongoing studies or of trials in development from the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group are discussed...

..The objective of this investigation was to assess whether preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level is an independent predictor of overall survival in rectal cancer patients...

Propensity scores and the surgeon

M AdaminaDivision of General Surgery and Institute for Surgical Research and Hospital Management, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandBr J Surg 93:389-94. 2006

..Unfortunately, many surgeons are unaware of this important analytical approach that has gained increasing stature in medical research. Thus, propensity score analyses are not used often in surgical studies...

..The objective of this prospective study was to assess the oncological and functional outcomes in breast cancer patients after endoscopic ALND...

Non-inferiority trials in surgical oncology

Philipp FueglistalerDepartment of Surgery, Divisions of General Surgery and Surgical Research, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandAnn Surg Oncol 14:1532-9. 2007

..The goal of this review is to discuss the principles, strengths, and challenges of non-inferiority trials and introduce this highly relevant topic to the surgical reader, using examples from the field of surgical oncology...

Influence of provider volume on length of stay, operating room time, and discharge status for rotator cuff repair

..The mean operating room times for low- and intermediate-volume surgeons were significantly higher than that for high-volume surgeons (P < .001). We conclude that high-volume providers use health care resources more efficiently...

..It is unknown whether an association exists between the SLN status and the presence of bone marrow (BM) micrometastases. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate whether or not such an association exists...

..To compare length of hospital stay, in-hospital complications, in-hospital mortality, and rate of routine discharge between laparoscopic and open appendectomy based on a representative, nationwide database...

..Laparoscopic colectomy has significant advantages over open colectomy in the treatment of diverticular disease with respect to the length of hospital stay, routine hospital discharge, and postoperative morbidity and mortality...

..Evidence suggests that laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has advantages over open appendectomy (OA) in the treatment of appendicitis. It remains, however, unclear whether LA is indicated in the elderly patient population...

..Studies have shown that racial and socioeconomic differences lead to inequality in access to health care. It is unknown whether insurance status and race affect the choice of surgical treatment for patients presenting with appendicitis...

..Disease free survival will be assessed by 4-monthly serial clinic visits, including physical and FDG-PET examinations, for a follow-up time of 2 years. Quality of life will be assessed with a dedicated FACT-BRM 4 questionnaire...

The relationship between surgeon and hospital volume and outcomes for shoulder arthroplasty